Sunday, 26 September 2010

Review of 'October Skies' by Alex Scarrow

This is the second novel by Alex Scarrow that I've read, and it's a thoroughly rivetting and fascinating read. Just like 'A Thousand Suns', it's set over two timelines, and centres around a group of settlers whose wagon train vanished in the winter of 1856. Fast forward to 2008, where two English documentary-makers discover a settler's diary in the remains of the convoy deep in the mountain forests of Wyoming. Throw into this mix, Indians, Mormon history, Ben Lambert's diary entries, a Presidential candidate with a serious skeleton-in-his-closet, and a serial killer in disguise (resembling the "monster" in 'The Village' film). Incidentally, the reveal of the murderer reminded me of the resolution to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". Highly recommended, can't wait to read 'Last Light' and it's sequel 'After Light'.